joelle_walker_

DISCERN THE COMPANY YOU KEEP!!! - Part 1

Often times, we associate ourselves with family members, friends, ministry colleagues and acquaintances who appear to carry a certain “grace” about them. On the surface, everything looks flawless. However, beneath the public facade often lies private despair, poor judgement, unresolved trauma, and a lack of accountability.

Many individuals remain emotionally and spiritually attached to such persons not because they cannot live without them, but because they lack the strength or clarity to leave. Continuous exposure to gossip, slander, manipulation, emotional abuse, and torment slowly erodes discernment. Fear then steps in, the fear of being labeled a “Judas” the fear of rejection, the fear of becoming an outcast.

As a result, many stay far beyond the expiration date of a season God already closed!

But seasons ALWAYS end!

And when the season finally closes, if healing, and self-examination have not taken place, the individual often becomes a walking billboard of hurt replaying the same cycles of mistrust, poor judgment, confusion, and offense.

Without awareness, they begin to mirroring the very behavior that wounded them operating from a place of hurt, bitterness, and pride rather than healing.

As children of God, we must understand this truth:
It is our biblical responsibility to correct our brothers and sisters in love when something is out of alignment with the word of almighty God.

Unfortunately, many have failed to do so not out of love, but out of:
• Fear
• People-pleasing
• Lust
• Abandonment Issues

This silence enables dysfunction and often cause individuals to become what they refuse to confront or even worse.

Proverbs 13:20 says, “ He that walketh with wise men shall be wise: but a companion of fools shall be destroyed.”

1 Corinthians 15:33 also says, “Be not deceived: evil communications corrupts good mannerism” ( Or as many commonly state: Bad company corrupts good character).

Scripture makes it clear:
The people you spend time with (your company) directly influence your character, habits, decisions, and spiritual directions.